The Inner Workings of Congress, 1981

Ever wondered what really goes on behind closed doors in Congress? Cameras would never be permitted in closed door meetings today, but in 1981, we managed to shoot a rare peek at an orientation for newly elected House Democrats (including Harold Washington). In it, Majority Whip Dan Rostenkowski, with his typical tell-it-like-it-is attitude, explains to the freshmen how things are really done in D.C.

It’s part of the excellent documentary Rostenkowski. This collection of raw footage was digitized through the support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and supporters like you.

Watch the full documentary at Media Burn.